Semper Fi: Braxton Pfaff

Lynchburg (Va.) Christian Academy offensive lineman Braxton Pfaff will not play in the Semper Fi Bowl after injuring his shoulder in practice on Wednesday.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – After hurting his shoulder Wednesday afternoon during Semper Fi Bowl practice, Lynchburg (Va.) Christian Academy offensive lineman Braxton Pfaff was reasonably optimistic that it would not keep him from playing in the game Friday.

But one day later, the Virginia Tech commit came to the realization that he would be better served by sitting it out and not risking further injury.

"It's really not worth aggravating the injury and then having to sit out my freshman year at Tech," Pfaff said Thursday.

Pfaff hurt his right shoulder, but won't know the full extent of the injury until he returns home.

"Being an offensive lineman, it's a rotator cuff injury and I'm using that every play, so I really need to get that healed up," Pfaff said. "Playing in this game isn't going to help that. It could just make that worse."

Pfaff had been set to start at right tackle for the East team, a position he could be manning for the Hokies in the future based on what coaches have told him.

"They say they want to start me off at tackle, then see where it goes from there, so I could be playing inside," Pfaff said.

Pfaff took his official visit last month and said he is "done" with the recruiting process, citing his relationship with head coach Frank Beamer and his staff.

"I feel like it's one big family over there with all the coaches," Pfaff said. "They are all really close and really close with the players too. I just love the atmosphere and the coaches."

And while Virginia Tech limped to an uncharacteristic 7-6 record this past, their first season with fewer than 10 wins since 2003, Pfaff is optimistic that a more experience team can turn things around.

"They lost nine or 10 guys," Pfaff said. "As an offense, anytime you do that it's going to be really tough the next year getting everybody back to the way they usually play. I think they will have a much better year this year though with more guys coming back."

Dan Greenspan writes about the Pac-12 for Fox Sports Next. Follow him on Twitter @DanGreenspan.